House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) (R) and member U.S. Rep. Peter King (R-NY) (L) hold a hearing about the Boston Marathon bombings on Capitol Hill May 9, 2013 in Washington, DC.

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) (R) and member U.S. Rep. Peter King (R-NY) (L) hold a hearing about the Boston Marathon bombings on Capitol Hill May 9, 2013 in Washington, DC.

. Michael McCaul chats with Dallas Wayne at the Hill RepCountry BBQ benefit for Bastrop County wildfire victim. Wayne, a country music singer, songwriter and host on SiriusXM Radio, lost his home in the Bastrop fires. (Congressional photo) less

. Michael McCaul chats with Dallas Wayne at the Hill RepCountry BBQ benefit for Bastrop County wildfire victim. Wayne, a country music singer, songwriter and host on SiriusXM Radio, lost his home in the ... more

Texas Rep. Michael McCaul has sent multiple requests to President Obama asking him to oppose the United Nations treaty which regulates international trade in conventional arms.

McCaul, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said he believes that the treaty threatens the Second Amendment rights of American gun owners. The Austin Republican warned that the treaty could lead to an international gun registry.

The U.N. Arms Trade Treaty was adopted by unelected representatives at the United Nations to prevent the illicit trade in conventional arms and to prevent their diversion. According to McCaul, the treaty would place strict reporting requirements on businesses, including record-keeping of end users.

McCaul today released the following statement:

“I urge President Obama not to sign the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), which threatens the fundamental Second Amendment rights of American gun owners. The ATT, which was adopted by unelected representatives at the United Nations, would place onerous reporting requirements on businesses including record keeping of end users, leading to an international gun registry. It could also hinder Americans’ ability to import certain arms and make it difficult for the U.S. to support allies, such as Israel.”

One goal of the treaty is to stop arms flows to conflict regions, but McCaul believes the treaty could impair the military assistance that the U.S. could provide to allies. The treaty applies to the transfer of battle tanks, armored combat vehicles, large-caliber artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, missiles and missile launchers, small arms, and light weapons.

McCaul is an original cosponsor of H. Con. Res. 23, which is a bill that asks the president not to sign the Arms Trade Treaty. If Obama does sign the treaty, the bill states that the Senate should not ratify it. The bill also states that no federal funds should be appropriated or authorized to implement the treaty unless it has been signed by the president, received the advice and consent of the Senate, and has been the subject of implementing legislation by Congress.